Born: 21 April 1850  Portsmouth, Scioto Co., OH Married: 17 Jun 1874 Newport, Vermillion, IN Died: 21 Nov 1880 Newport, Vermillion, IN FATHER James Hannahs MOTHER Eliza Shefflin HUSBAND Lewis Shepard CHILDREN Grace Shepard

Susan Hannahs
by Susan Brooke
Jun 2023 

Susan Hannahs was born 21 Apr 1850 in Portsouth, Ohio, the second child born to James and Eliza Hannahs. (1) Her parents had two more children.  Then for some reason in 1857 when she was 7 years old, they gave her to her father's sister to raise. (7) Susan's older brother and younger sister remained in Portsmouth with their parents.  Her aunt Ruth Hannahs had married Richard Porter and was living in Vermillion County, Indiana. (2) Since Susan's aunt Ruth had no children of her own, she took in Susie Hannahs as her own child to raise.
Susan's mother had signed documents in Pope Co., IL with her mark indicating she could not read or write. (3) However, Susan inscribed one of her schoolbooks with "Susie Hannahs." (4) She attended St. Agnes Hall in Terre Haute, IN and was a dear friend of Callie Shepard.   Callie's older brother Lewis Shepard came to visit and Susan made reference to his visit in her diary. He had brought some oranges and they were "lucious." (5) Susan must have been very close to her aunt that raised her.  In 1873 her aunt, Ruth Hannahs Porter, wrote a will leaving a great deal of land and all of her property to Susan.  She also left Susan her gold watch on the condition that Susan give her own watch to her "Sister Sarah." However, her aunt Ruth outlived Susan.  The will, however, indicates there was still a relationship with the family back in Portsmouth.  Susan's parents, James and Eliza Hannahs, left an album filled with many family portraits to their granddaughter Grace Shepard, daughter of Susan Hannahs,  in 1887.
Susan married  Callie's older brother, Lewis Shepard,  on 17 Jun 1874. (6) He was 34 and she 24.   They had their daughter Grace a year later.  They must have been a very happy couple expecting their second child.  But Susan and the child both died in 1880.  She was only 30 years old.  According to her obituary she was a refined and dignified lady. (7)   There is a book found in the Shepard family called  Behaviour Book, a Manuel for Ladies, published in 1857. This may have been her book or belonged to one of Lewis Shepard's sisters. However, it seems very probable that Susan was influenced by the writings.  (8) It says, among other things, to never argue with a man.
Susan Hannahs died on either the 21st or 22nd of November 1880. Her obituary reads Nov 22, but her tombstone reads Nov 21. (9)

Sources

(1) Shepard Bible

(2) 1850 census Vermillion County, IN

Ruth Hannah living with sister Sarah Jane Cook married to Joseph C Cook.  Sarah died on25 Nov 1850

(3) Pope County Ill Deed BK L page 486  18 Sep 1847

 Eliza Shufflin to John T Shufflin rights to 80 acres of land as one of the heirs of Timothy T Shufflin for $30.

(4) Good Daughters inscribed by Susie Hannahs and Johnny Hannahs

Inscriptions

The book was also inscribed with "Johnny Hannahs."   Susan's uncle uncle, Abednego Hannahs, married in Vermillion County in 1866 and  had two children but spent 2/3rds of his time in the "calaboose" so Susan's aunt Ruth also took in those two children to raise.  Johnny Hannahs, son of Abednego, was born 3 Sep 1868 was therefore 18 years younger than Susan and he inscribed the book several years later in 1895. 

(5) Typed version of Diary of Susan Hannahs

1866, Feb 7, Morning, 8 o'clock - I met with a happy surprise.  I was called down to see my friend H. Shepard, my dear friend Callie's brother.  1866 Feb 22 - Evening-Levee, and there was quite a number from town here.  Louis came from Cincinnati.  Callie was sick he came up in 32 had a gay time in general.  Wrote a long letter home after 10 o'clock. 1866 Feb 23 - Louis came up in the morn, brought us some oranges and they were luscious.

(6) Marriage License
Lewis Shepard to Susie R. Hannahs 17 Jun 1874 Vermillion, Indiana

Wedding announcement from Hoosier State June 18, 1874

A Brilliant Wedding The palatial residence of Wm. I Porter, of this place, was the scene of one of the most brilliant weddings yesterday evening that has taken place in Newport for a long time, being the occasion of the marriage of Miss Susan Hannahs, a beautiful and dashing young lady, to Dr. Lewis Shepard.  The costume of the bride was exquisite in the extreme.  The groom was dressed in plain black and presented a handsome appearance.  A few special friends and a large number of relatives of the groom and bride were present to witness the two united in wedlock, which was duly performed near 8 o'clock last evening by the Rev. John W. Parrett.

(7) Obituary of Susie Hannahs from Hoosier State, Wednesday 24 Nov 1880

Mrs. Susie Shepard, wife of Dr. Lewis Shepard, departed this life Monday, November 22 inst.  She was born April 21, 1850, in the State of Ohio; came to Newport at the age of seven years to live with her aunt, Mrs. Porter.  Being of a bright and cheerful disposition and pleasant in her address, she soon won a high place in the regards of of her young companions, which place, by native goodness of heart she has ever since retained. She was married June 17, 1874, to her now bereaved companion.  Being fortunate in her selection of a companion and of one accord within the sacred relations of husband and wife, theirs was truly a pleasant home. How sad it seems that death should come so early to such a home.  And, how true it is that 'death loves a shining mark.'  The fairest flowers are gathered first.  To those who knew our sister best and therefore loved her most this providence seems dark indeed.  But we ought to remember even in the midst of our grief that the Lord has but claimed his own, and strive to be thankful that for a time we were blessed with such a companion and friend. By this providence a cheerful and happy home is made desolate; the heart of the husband is burthened with grief that words cannot express, the little daughter is deprived of the tender care and loving sympathy of a mother; and in this their bereavement we can only commend them to the kindly ministries of friends and neighbors and to the tender care of Him who has promised to deal gently with the sorrowing and to be a father to the orphan.  Wm. L. Little

(8) Behaviour Book, a Manual for Ladies, by Miss Leslie
author of Pencil Sketches, Complete Cookery, The House Book, More Receipts, etc.
Seventh Edition   1857

pg 15.  Above all tings, avoid letter your hostess know you have found or felt insects in your bed.  --  If you have proof positive, confide this fact to the  chambermaid only.  - enjoining her to do this a quietly as possible and to say nothing about it to anyone.

pg 121 Most American ladies beyond the age of thirty-five look better in caps than without them, even if their hair shows no  signs of middle age.

pg 127 While cutting, keep the fork in your left hand, the hollow or concave side downward, the fork in a very slanting position, and your fore-finger extended far down upon its handle.  when you have done cutting up what your are going to eat, lay aside your knife, transfer the fork to your right hand, and take a small piece of bread in your left. ---  If engaged in talking, do not, meanwhile, hold your fork bolt upright, but incline it downward so as to be nearly on a level with your plate.

pg. 150 The postage now is in almost every instance pre-paid, it being but three cents when paid by the writer, and five if left to the receiver.  Therefore, none but very poor or very mean people sent unpaid letters.

pg. 197 Generally speaking, it is injudicious for ladies to attempt arguing with gentlemen on political or financial topics.  All the information that a woman can possibly acquire or remember on these subjects is so small, in comparison with the knowledge of men, that the discussion will not elevate them in the opinion of the masculine mind.--  Men are very intolerant toward women who are prone to contradiction and contention, when the talk is of things considered our of their sphere; but very indulgent toward a modest and attentive listener. 

pg. 198  It is true there are and have been women who have distinguished themselves greatly in the higher branches of science and literature, and on whom the light of genius has clearly descended.  But can the annals of woman produce a female Shakespeare, a female Milton, a Goldsmith, a Campbell, or a Scott?  What women has painted like Raphael or Titain, or like the best artist of our own time? -- A good tailor fits, cuts out, and sews better than the most celebrated female dress-maker.  A good man-cook far excels a good women-cook.  --- Truth is, the female sex is really as inferior to the male in vigour of mind as in strength of body; and all arguments to the contrary are founded on a few anomalies, or based on theories that can never be reduced to practice.

Behaviour Book page 197

Behaviiour Book pages 198-199

(9) Tombstone of Susie Hannahs

"Susie R wife of Lewis Shepard died Nov 21, 1880 aged 30 ys and 7 mo's"

Susan Hannahs

Susan Hannahs

her sister Sally Hannahs